Coventry pensioner John Hall claims to have cured himself of diabetes – with exercise classes that last just 12 minutes.

The 67-year-old, of Radford, suffered badly with the condition and worried it would kill him at any minute.

Medics classed him at being at high risk of heart attacks and strokes, and he feared going to sleep in case he failed to wake up in the morning.

In his seven-year battle with Type 2 diabetes, the retired Coventry City Council officer tried in vain to reduce his dangerously high cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

John altered his diet and started daily five-mile walks but found no improvement in his health.

He began to fear he would be never escape the symptoms, until he found a new approach to exercise which in as little as two 12-minute sessions a week – a fraction of the recommended two and a half hours – have turned his life around.

His sessions at Jubilee Crescent Community Centre in Radford squeeze warm-ups and a series of high intensity aerobic activity in the limited time.

The programme supports new thinking that short, intense, exercise sessions can be just as beneficial as longer work-out regimes.

John joined four months ago in which time his glucose and cholesterol levels, which were nearly double what they should be, have close to halved.

His rapidly shrinking blood sugar and blood pressure levels have even shocked doctors who plan to start weaning John off his diabetes drugs.

He said: “The exercises might only be for 12 minutes but my metabolism keeps working hard for the next 24 hours.

“I noticed an improvement in the first month.

“When I went back to the doctors two weeks ago, they were absolutely astounded.

John Hall takes part in a short fitness class at Jubilee Crescent Community Centre.

“They said ‘what on earth have you been doing?’”

He hopes his story will inspire other Type 2 diabetes sufferers, of which there are millions with the condition in the UK.

“I don’t consider myself to be a diabetic any more,” added John, who has gone from monitoring his blood sugar levels four times a day to once in the morning.

“I feel free to enjoy my life. I can’t believe the difference in myself.”

John was told he had Type 2 diabetes the day after his 60th birthday, after complaining of severe tiredness and thirst and being referred for tests.

His declining health culminated with a minor stroke while at work two years ago.

“I felt a strange tingling feeling down my face,” he said.

“I felt sort of wobbly, one side of my face started to droop and I couldn’t hold my pen.

“A colleague drove me to my GP and the doctor said you’re not leaving here unless in an ambulance, so I was taken to hospital where I was told I’d suffered a minor stroke, a forewarning to a bigger one.”

He was told he was in the high risk category for strokes and heart attacks.

The scare was a wake-up call for John who went on to take retirement fearing the stress of work was a contributing factor.